Getting Started with Harmony Smart Keyboard

Walk through our setup tutorial: adding your home entertainment devices, setting up one-touch Activities and learning more about the usage of your Smart Keyboard. Already set up and something's not working? Our troubleshooters and support articles will help set things right.

Understanding how Harmony works

Plus, Smart Keyboard allows you merge the remotes of up to 8 of your home entertainment devices into one so you can, and should! keep those other remotes out of sight.

The Harmony smartphone app will guide you through entering the manufacturer and model numbers of your home devices so Harmony understands how to control them. It then helps you create Activities (or scenes) so you're only one-button away from watching television or playing a game.

Harmony Smart Keyboard

Harmony Hub

Harmony Hub is the center of your home entertainment solution. Placed near your television, set top box, game console and other equipment it uses Infrared (IR), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the included wireless USB receivers to control your various devices.

As Harmony Smart Keyboard relays commands through Harmony Hub, the hub must always be powered on.

USB receiver (x2)

If one of your devices is not Bluetooth capable, a USB receiver may be plugged into its USB port to enable text entry.

The USB receivers are connected to the hub via radio frequency (RF) that can function in typical living room environments and from behind cabinet doors.

Power adapter

Connect the power adapter to your Harmony Hub. It takes 30 seconds for the hub to power on.

IR mini blaster

The IR mini blaster connects to the back of the hub and helps extend the coverage area for IR controlled device.

Use this if your entertainment system has closed cabinets and you have devices behind cabinet doors.

Use of the IR mini blaster may or may not be required, depending on your setup.

USB extender

The USB extender helps connect the USB receiver into hard-to-reach USB slots. It may also be used to improve the range of the USB receiver if text entry responsiveness is poor.

Use of the USB extender may or may not be required, depending on your setup.

USB cable

If your smartphone doesn't support Bluetooth LE technology, the USB cable can connect Harmony Hub to your computer so your homes Wi-Fi credentials may be saved to the hub. Harmony Hub uses Wi-Fi to communicate with Harmony App which is used for both setup and additional control.

Use of the USB cable may or may not be required, depending on your setup.

Positioning Smart Keyboard and Harmony Hub

Proper placement for Harmony Hub

Open Cabinets

Position Harmony Hub on top of your cabinet, or on a large, open shelf that's unobstructed.

IR signals sent from the hub will reflect off of walls and other surfaces before reaching your devices. Direct line of sight is generally not required.

Closed Cabinets

Position Harmony Hub inside the cabinet, on or beside the majority of your devices.

IR signals sent from the hub will reflect off of walls, cabinet interiors and other surfaces before reaching your devices. Direct line of sight is generally not required.

Plug the IR mini blaster into the back of the hub and position it on top of your cabinet so it may send IR signals to your television.

Powering on Harmony Hub

Plug the supplied power adapter into Harmony Hub. The hub takes 30 seconds to power on.

Powering on Smart Keyboard

Pull out the battery tabs on the back of your keyboard.

Turn the power switch to on.

You're ready!

Downloading Harmony App and Wi-Fi setup

Visit the Apple App Store or Google Play and search for Harmony App.

Launch the app and select Continue.

Have and older iPhone?

iPhone 4, iPad 2 or iPod Touch 5 and earlier require that you first set up your Harmony Hub using a computer. Download the Harmony desktop software, create an account, connect your Harmony Hub and proceed with Wi-Fi setup. Once complete, setup will continue using your phone or tablet.

Once your phone and Harmony Hub have paired over Bluetooth you will be asked to enter your Wi-Fi credentials.

Give Harmony Hub a name such as "living room".

Once connected to Wi-Fi you may continue with setup.

Adding Devices and Activities

If you already have a Harmony remote or myharmony.com account, sign in. Otherwise select Create an account.

You'll be guided through several screens explaining how Harmony Smart Keyboard works.

If you have a previous Harmony remote and would like to import its devices and Activities, you will be able to copy them over to your new Smart Keyboard. If you do not have a previous Harmony remote, select New Setup.

Using your Harmony

Understanding Activities. Unlike other universal remotes that may control devices individually, Harmony controls an Activity such as Watching TV or Playing a Game. You don't need to choose which device you want to control. Start your Watch TV Activity and your volume will automatically control the stereo, and channels will automatically change your TV or set top box. Watch this video to learn more.

Keep your devices in sync. To help keep your Harmony in sync with your devices, avoid turning your television, set top box and other devices on and off manually or by using their original remote control. If something didn't turn on then use the help feature.

Harmony Help feature. Did one of your devices not power on, or switch to the correct input? The Harmony Help feature, located in the Harmony smartphone app will ask you a series of questions to bring everything back in sync. Watch our video to learn more about Harmony Help.

Additional support resources

Having trouble with one of your Activities?

If one of your devices didn't power on or change to the correct input, then we recommend using our Activity troubleshooter to help narrow down the problem and find a solution.

Contact the Harmony Team

About Harmony

Harmony lets you combine and control lights, locks, thermostats, blinds, music, movies, TV and more to create customized home Activities. Control devices individually or in groups with one touch of your Harmony remote or smartphone.